Spray-roller dispenser



'INVENTOR and E. A. JOHNSON SPRAY ROLLER DISPENSER Filed July 5, 1947 Aug. 14, 1951 Patented Aug. 14, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SPRAY-ROLLER DISPENSER Everett A. Johnson, Park Ridge, Ill.

Application July 5, 1947, Serial No. 759,098 4 Claims. (01. in-62.5)

This invention relates to an improved sprayroller dispenser and has for a principal object the provision of a portable dispensing apparatus in combination with a liquid reservoir adapted to be used in manipulating the dispenser.

An additional object is to provide a novel and improved combination moistening and pressuring device adapted to deposit a uniform and balanced film of a fluid upon a base surface. Another object of the invention is to provide a moistening device adaptedto dispense a readily volatile solvent which device is simple in construction and positive in operation. A further object of the invention is to provide a method and means for intermittently and controllably applying a uniform and balanced film of a fluid on a base surface. These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken with the accompanying drawings in which: 7

Figure 1 is a vertical elevation partly in section diagrammatically illustrating details of the apparatus; and

Figure 2 is a fragmentary View partly in section taken along the line 22 in Figure l.

Briefly, my invention contemplates an apparatus comprising a fluid reservoir, means for discharging fluid from said reservoir, a roller, means for mounting a roller adjacent the reservoir, and a spray tube means communicating with said discharge means and adapted to deposit a film of solvent fluid on the roller. This portable device is particularly adaptable for making transfers from small masters to any clear surface. Thus the device is designed for use where only one or a few copies of a multiplicity of small relatively rigid masters are to be made at relatively frequent intervals. Moreover, the apparatus is unique in its class, it being of such proportions that it is readily portable and can be used on odd shapes and on surfaces ordinarily inaccessible to prior art duplicating devices.

Referring to the drawings wherein like elements are identified by similar reference characters, the reservoir [8 comprises a chamber with means for positively engaging a valve chamber or roller support. Combined with these other elements, the reservoir l functions as the handle for the device and, if desired, it can be the original container for the fluid to be dispensed. valve chamber 12 comprising for example a light casting of metal or plastic or the like, is fixed to the reservoir 10 and to the roller support member 13 by any suitable fluid-tight means including threads or off-set slots, and a washer l9 if necessary. This chamber [2 can be formed with a central hollow portion I 5, a port or orifice M, an inner threaded portion I! adapted to engage the externally threaded portion ll of the reservoir [0 and shoulder Hi. The opposite end of the valve chamber [2 comprises a cylindrical recess 20 having internal threads 2| adapted to engage the roller support 13. The outer portion of the valve chamber I2 can be provided with a polygonal surface to facilitate its connection to the reservoir Ii] and to the roller support I 3.

A transverse cylindrical opening 22 is formed in the valve chamber l2, said opening extending through one wall thereof across the axis of this portion of the valve chamber. Extending beyond the side wall'of the valve chamber I2 is a hollow boss 23 in axial alignment with the opening 22, said boss 23 being internally threaded. Within the opening 22 there is inserted a slide valve piston 24 carried by the piston rod or stem 26 which extends outside the valve chamher [2 and terminates in finger piece 21. The stem 26 of the plunger 24 extends through a packing gland 29 threaded into the boss 23. A quantity of packing 30 is placed around the stem 26 and is held in place bya packing nut 3|, thus preventing leakage around the stem 26. An expansion spring 28 is interposed between the packing gland 29 and the finger piece 21, said spring normally tending to actuate the valve piston or plunger 24 to its outer position.

Extending axially of the valve chamber 12 and through the bottom portion thereof is the internall threaded recess 20, the passageway 34 communicating at its upper end with a trough 35 in the wall of the valve opening 22. The lower portion of the passageway 34 extends downwardly through the body of the valve chamber l2 and terminates in the opening 36.

The roller support assembly I3 comprises a base portion including an externally threaded ring 42 and a top wall 43 having a central open ing 45. A roller is mounted for rotation on trunnions 4'! in openings 48 in the arms 46 of the roller support member I3.

In connecting the roller and spray assembly l3 with the valve chamber l2 the threaded portion 42 engages the threads 2| in recess 20 and a ring washer 49 may be interposed between the upper face of the roller support l3 and the base 33 of the recess 20.

Adjacent the moistening roller 40, in spaced relation and parallel to the axis there is arranged a spray or distributing tube 5w having a large number of fine holes or spraying nozzles 55 arranged along the length thereof in a single or in a plurality of rows. A conduit 52 passes throughthe opening 45 and connects the spray tube 56 to the valve chamber [2. One end of the conduit 52 can be fianged at 53 and recessed in 3 to complete a fiuid-tight conduit from reservoir It? to spray tube 58. If desired means can be provided on conduit 52 to prevent the turning of the conduit 52 and avoid any dis'alignment of the spray tube 50 with respect to the axis of the roller d9. In. the illustrated embodiment, however, the ledges 51 are provided to align the tube 50 with the axis of the roller 40.

The moistening roller 40 and the spray tubefiii are illustrated as having an integral'shield or cover l3 which protects the surface of the roller from interference and dust and minimizes evaporation of the fluid from the surface of the roller lfl. ted in some embodiments. If desired, however, 'a removable extension (not shown) of the shield 1-3 can be secured to the fixed shield l3 for completely enclosing the assembly during storage of the'apparatus. The fixed shield may also supporta capillary material which may be brought into contact with the roller 48 automatically or by the operator for further distributing the solvent sprayed on the cylindrical surface of the moistening roller and for absorbing any excess solvent.

The arrangement of elements enables the operator to moisten the roller 38 bydepressing the finger piece 21 against the action of the spring "28. 'Thesolvent fluid trapped within the valve cylinder -22 is forced from the valve or pump chamber into the spraying or distributing tube 59 via trough 35, opening 34, and conduit 52, the fluid being distributed over the surface of the roller 40.

i The construction described has the advantages that a predetermined amount of liquid will be positively delivered to the roiler, and that the roller may be used either in the vertical or hori- -zo'ntal position and-is not dependent upon capillary or gravity-feed to the roller. v From'theabove description, it is apparent that ,I have attainedthe objects of my invention and have provided a moistening device wherein a uniform and positivelycontrolled amount of solventis applied to a clear surface in a simple and efiicient manner. Furthermore, an improved portable moistening device of extremely simple operation and convenient proportions has been provided. It should-be understood, however, that modifications may bemade in the illustrated embodiments by those skilled in this art without departing'from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An apparatus comprising in combination an elongatedliquid'reservoir, a discharge opening in one end of said reservoir, 2. pump unit 'fixed to said reservoir adjacent said opening, a transverse cylindrical bore'in said unit, a first inlet port in the Wall of said bore and communicating with the opening in said reservoir, a piston slidable within said bore, a piston operating means extend-- ingexteriorly of said bre, a spring means acting on said operating means to urge said piston longitudinally within said bore to open said first port,a second outlet port in the wall of said cylin-- Such a shield, however, may be omit- I drical bore said second port discharging exterior of said bore and of said reservoir, a channel extending in the wall of said bore from said second port, a hooded support means carried by said pump unit, a roller mounted on trunnions within said hooded support means, said roller being disposed so as to expose a portion of said roller exteriorly of said hooded support, and a nozzle means within said hood and communicating with said second port, said-nozzle means comprising a shaped tube, the discharge portion of which extends substantially the width of said roller and in juxtaposition to the cylindrical surface thereof.

v2. The duplicating device of claim 1' wherein the hooded support means is in threaded engagement with saidpump unit, a. gasket means is disposed between the hooded support and said pump unit, and the free ends of said T-shaped spray tube are aligned by the walls of said hood- .ed support means.

3. Anapparatus comprising in combination an elongated liquid reservoir, a discharge opening in oneend of said reservoir, a piston pump unit fixed to said reservoir adjacent said opening, 'a removable hooded support'means threaded to said pump unit, a smooth-surfacedcylindrical-roller mountedon trunnions within said hooded-support means, said roller bein'g disposed so as to be To- 'tatable out of contact with said *hood and to expose *a portion of said roller exteriorly of said hooded support, and anozzle means 'vvithins'aid hood andcommunicating with said pump unit, said-nozzle means comprising a T-shaped tube, a discharge portion of which extends substantially the length of said roller and in juxtaposition to but spaced from the cylindricalsurface thereof.

4. An apparatus comprising in combination an elongatedfiuid reservoir means, a single'port-in one end of said reservoir means, a pump housing threaded to said reservoir about said port, a

fluid pump means in said housingc'omm'unicating with said port means, a hooded support means "removably attached to 'said :pump housing, a

cylindrical roller mounted within said support means with its cylindrical surface out of contact with said support and with aportion of the cylindrical surface rotatable outside the hooded support, said hooded support having a wide mouthed opening which'is greater than the length of the roller in-one dimension and greater than the diameter of the roller in another dimension, a'pe'rforated spray means substantial coaxial alignment with said-roller and disposed near but spaced from its cylindrical surface, and fluidtight conduit-means communicating with said fiuid pu'mp-niea'ns and said spray means.

EVERETT A. JOHNSON.

"REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

